The delay arises from a desire to allow Gronkowski’s torn MCL to heal before replacing the ACL. It also means that Gronkowski’s availability for Week One of the 2014 regular season becomes an even bigger question mark.

Regardless of how long it takes, here’s hoping that Gronkowski doesn’t borrow any of RGIII’s phrases from 2013, like “All In For Week One” and the oxymoronic (and otherwise moronic) “Operation: Patience.”

The hit on Gronk and Randall Cobb for that matter make me sick. I’m not blaming the tacklers or even the league. But something is wrong when defenders are diving at knees like this. Fix it this off-season! Please.

I fear the fork is out for the Gronk. Hard to justify the investment in him when he misses half every season due to injury. Some are possibly self inflicted, but many have been “flukes” or out of his control. Still, the “injury prone” tag makes one wonder if he is going to have much of a career any longer

My biggest fear is that his recovery time gives him more free time to work on his awful sitcom idea.

Get well soon Gronk.

detectivejimmymcnulty says:Jan 7, 2014 11:04 AM

You honestly think NFL players are “only natural?” Being 300 pounds+ and moving and looking like these guys is not natural. Atleast 50% of NFL players are on PEDs. They keep putting off HGH testing for a reason.

I also tore my acl a few years ago. The dr waited a month before performing the surgery. My knee, literally looked like a football. Good luck Gronk, we miss you.

patriottony says:Jan 7, 2014 11:14 AM

NOBODY wants to tell the truth on this BS,,,,Players from HS to College to the PRO’s are being taught to use their helmets like a speeding bullet..they no longer tackle with their body,,PERIOD,,,,on any given play you will see the CB/LB/FS lower their helmet and drive for the body. Conversley,,you see RB/QB/WR,,as they get ready to be tackled scrunch up and lower their helmets like battering rams…..this is why we have oall the concusions and other injuries,,,,use of the head to tackle….on the GRONK play the defender never even put out his arms to tackle him,,,he lowered his shoulder and helmet and dove at his legs

Can we place a bet on his next injury? Hall of Fame talent on a body not willing to cooperate.

———————–

You could be right.

He needs to adust his playing style slightly or he’ll be out every year. That hit would have killed any player’s ACL. You can’t have your leg there. He has to protect himself a bit instead of going Gronk style all the time, but he might not be able to do it.

These injuries are not a result of defenders having to go low because they are afraid of a fine. Going for the head was a relatively new problem. Prior to that…there wasn’t a big issue with knee injuries. So what changed?

Prior to the recent shift to head hunting, defenders tackled with proper technique. Planting their shouler pads on the ball carrier’s thigh, waist, or chest and wrapping their arms.

Gone is proper tackling…and launching your body head first into the ball carrier’s legs is the new way to tackle. Maybe they should go back to teaching how to tackle.

One of the biggest problems is they have made helmets TOO good. The better they make them, the more players feel like their head is a battering ram. Take away helmets and you would be surprised how quickly proper tackling techniques would return.

I feel bad for Gronk. Terrible hit on a body that’s been hit and hit some more. Add an infection post-op to the mix and it’s been a long year that’s about to start over. I hope he has a good recovery and is back when it’s time for him to be back. But, we’ll all hear the rush-him-back stories because they sell and have to endure it throughout preseason and then a six-week respite will ensue before he returns.

cometkazie says:Jan 7, 2014 12:55 PM

Andrews is from Homer, La., and was an SEC champion pole vaulter at LSU.

To say he’s injury-prone is a little unfair. He has been injured, but the one was a freakish forearm break when his arm got caught between helmets on an extra point and rather than let it heal fully, the Patriots rushed him back and made it worse, and the ACL tear was unavoidable with the hit that Ward put on him. He has always been physical on the field and those are really the only two instances he’s been hurt, neither injury coming from his playing style. Hopefully he returns 100% from this injury whenever he’s ready; he’s obviously a huge part of this offense and one of the best players in the league. Regardless of if you like the team or not, you should want to see him on the field

This guy is another Bob Sanders, great football player that is injury prone and just can’t stay healthy. Just like Sanders not worth the investment IMO, misses way to many games for the money being paid.

Says right in the article that the surgery was delayed to allow proper healing of the also injured MCL, prior to ACL reconstruction. Hope Gronkowski heals well this time n gets back to his fighting form. Go Pats!